Blessing of the fleet

Top, Brian Wartman, captain of the fishing vessel Ariel, accepts a flag from Rev. Erik Wilson-Weiberg during the annual blessing of the fleet at Fisherman’s Terminal. At left, co-captian Adam Wartman raises the flag as the boat is blessed. (Joshua Trujillo/Seattlepi.com)

As fishermen and faithful stood with heads bowed, Rev. Erik Wilson-Weiberg and Rev. Laurie Jones of Ballard First Lutheran Church asked for safety and a good catch for Seattle’s fleet at Fisherman’s Terminal on Saturday afternoon.

The annual tradition of prayer and remembrance was started 82 years ago and brought together fishermen, local politicians and dignitaries. Pastor Malcolm Unseth of Ballard First Lutheran presided over the ceremony for 21 years but died in 2009; this was the first blessing since his death. His daughter, Kathy Unseth, spoke to the crowd of her father’s ties to the fishing community and how he helped build the memorial for fishermen who lost their lives to their profession.

The Ariel, one of hundreds of boats based at Fishermen’s Terminal, will head to southeast Alaska to fish for salmon.